Pittsburgh Public Schools vote Sharene Shealey to be new president

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The Pittsburgh Public Schools board has elected a new president, Sharene Shealey of North Point Breeze.

The board voted 6-3 Monday for Ms. Shealey, 40, to head the board. Ms. Shealey, who represents District 1, has been a board member since 2009 and is in the final year of her first term.

Three board members voted for board member Regina Holley, a former city school principal for president. She was nominated by Mark Brentley Sr., who voted for her as did Thomas Sumpter and Ms. Holley.

Sherry Hazuda, who served as president for two years, nominated Ms. Shealey for the presidency. Also voting for Ms. Shealey were Theresa Colaizzi, Jean Fink, Bill Isler, Floyd McCrea and Ms. Shealey.

The board elected Thomas Sumpter as first vice president and Bill Isler as second vice president.

As board president, Ms. Shealey must help steer the district through financially challenging times as district forecasts call for the district to run out of money in 2015 if the district remains on its current course. The district also faces disappointing scores on state tests and is trying to address an equity problem as well.

Ms. Shealey has a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Howard University in Washingon, D.C., and a master's in the field from Carnegie Mellon University.

She is a former chemistry instructor at Community College of Allegheny County; was an air quality specialist for the state Department of Environmental Protection; and is manager of environmental operations/air quality for GenOn Energy Inc. Her three children are enrolled in city schools.